In April 2004 six students from Columbia University 's Environmental MPA Program ventured to Michael McDonough's e-House to learn about green architecture. Our group, composed of five six students, collaborate on a sustainable development lab project. The goal of our lab is to study sustainable development projects in and around New York City, and to develop an informative website describing them.

Our road trip began at 9am and the drive took approximately 2 hours. The e-House is located north of Manhattan in New York 's beautiful Hudson Valley. The road trip was amazing; especially for those of us that had not escaped Manhattan in several months! Upon arrival to the site, we were immediately welcomed by Michael and given a tour of the landscape.

The e-House rests on 30 acres land, partially in the Catskill Forest Preserve and adjacent to the New York City Watershed.  The ecology is extremely diverse; foliage ranges from hemlock-hardwood to red maple-oak forest characteristics and there is an array of insects and animal species. Old stone trails outline the land and add a beautiful maze-like characteristic to the terrain.

After a tour of the land, Michael introduced us the exterior of the e-House. The e-House was built where an older building had been located. Coincidentally, the spot is well placed for catching sun rays and easing drainage during heavy winter rains. All materials used in the construction of the e-House were chosen with concern for the environment and long-term durability. The frame of the house and its' walls, ceilings and roof are composed of particular materials like autoclaved aerated concrete and recycled insulation (made from old blue jeans!). To learn more about exterior construction and materials used for the e-House, click here.

Like its' exterior, the interior of the e-House has been designed and constructed with great care. The front door leads into a spacious room that includes the kitchen, living room and a small office. One of the more spectacular features in this room is a Rumford Fireplace that was built into a side wall for brick-oven baking. The second-floor of the e-House includes two bedrooms and baths. Carefully placed windows, composed of environmentally friendly glass that provide a great amount of natural light.

Escaping from the inside of the e-House, a door from the second floor opens to a grand stairway that leads to a spacious roof. This prefabricated, spacious roof, made of SIPs and steel framing, is the first of its kind! Views from the roof are amazing, spanning the Hudson Valley.